The Hunger Games Trilogy: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW, SO DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS Okay, so first of all, as a huge Harry Potter fan, I've been undergoing a withdrawal since the book series (and the movie series) have now ended. I love reading many different books, but I wasn't sure I would ever latch onto a new story the way I latched on to Harry Potter almost 10 years ago. Enter The Hunger Games. I actually first heard of it from Kristian Harloff of the Schmoes Know YouTube channel some months ago, and I was definitely intrigued. Of course, there's a movie coming out soon, and back when the trailers were first released, I thought it look interesting but I wasn't excited since I had no idea what it was about. I purchased this box set a few weeks ago, however, going off of the incredibly positive word-of-mouth. I've officially climbed onto The Hunger Games bandwagon. The first book is written in first person POV, with 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen as the main character. I will say that, as a male, I'm aware that most of the great fictional heroes are male. It's so great to see a great female hero like Katniss (along the lines of Ripley from Alien). While brave, her character is also very feminine and vulnerable, and she's just awesome! Anyway, I won't really delve too deep into the plot, but the first book, The Hunger Games, centers around this tournament in which 24 kids aged 12-18 (12 boys and 12 girls) are selected to compete in. They are put into large arenas controlled by Gamemakers, and it's basically a deathmatch. It's all a part of the Capitol (the force which runs the districts of Panem) showing the districts who's in charge. At first, I wasn't sure which of the 3 books was my favorite. Now, I'm pretty sure it's The Hunger Games, just because it takes so many unexpected twists and turns, and the reader really feels as though he/she is Katniss experiencing these games. Also, The Hunger Games is ironically the book that showcases the worst of the Capitol's power, by showing these kids killing each other. Now for the second book, Catching Fire. I regard this as The Empire Strikes Back of the Hunger Games Trilogy (for Star Wars fans out there). This one shows the issues that Katniss and Peeta face after the Hunger Games have ended and they have been crowned victors. The book centers around the rise of a rebellion against the Capitol, and the rising of President Snow, the ruler of the Capitol and the districts. What really sells this book is the dark, ominous, uncertain tone of it. It may reuse a few elements of the first book (for example, another Hunger Games match), but it puts a different twist on it. This book also ends on a cliffhanger MUCH like The Empire Strikes Back (I'll be shocked if Suzanne Collins isn't a Star Wars fan). This is a great book, maybe not as fresh as the first, but it's of equal quality and a great continuation. Now we have the final book, Mockingjay. This is definitely the one fans are most divided over. Some really like it, others were disappointed by it, and some even hate it. I'll start off by saying that Mockingjay is a full out war story, and everything in the first two books had been leading up to it. Many fans were disappointed that the Katniss-Peeta-Gale love triangle wasn't extremely romantic (though it was definitely present), and that the book seemed to end abruptly and felt incomplete. I, for one, think this book is excellent. It's not quite the read that the first two books were (though it's still captivating). While those two were dark, they still had a "pure candy" aspect to them. This one, as I said, is a full-out war story. People on both sides die, allegiances are questioned, there is anger, sadness, distrust, betrayal...everything. I was very surprised with how bold Suzanne Collins was with this book, but I was also very pleased. She doesn't sugarcoat any of it. War tears people apart, and it changes people permanently. Even if they make it through the end and rebuild their lives, they are never the same as they were before. And sure, the ending leaves some questions open, but it felt right to me. The main story, the main moral of the story was wrapped up very well. The main characters' arcs were wrapped up very well, too. It's definitely emotionally draining, but also uplifting. I thought the way she wrote it was fantastic. Is it my favorite of the series? I'm not sure. I would probably reread the first book before rereading this one. However, I might like this one a teensy bit more than the second, but I really can't be sure. All of the books are great for what they are. I'm not trying to overhype it, but this really is an epic trilogy. It has many thrills and takes many unexpected twists and turns. The first movie won't be out for another two weeks, but I could actually see the movies being even more enjoyable than the books. No disrespect to the author, of course, but the stories could benefit greatly from cinematic adaptations. Word has it that the films will take a more omniscent point of view, rather than being solely from Katniss' point of view. While seeing things from Katniss' POV works in the books, we definitely need a larger scale in the movies, so I think the atmosphere in the films could really blow people away. I especially think that Mockingjay (which I believe will be a 2-Part film) will benefit from a film adaptation, since we will probably see more of the war (and President Snow), and the ending will probably have a more definite conclusion. I think we will see some scenes from Peeta's point of view, as well. That's just my prediction anyway, and I hope I'm right. Again, this is a great set of books that has HUGE potential as films. Harry Potter did a great job as movies (sure, I might have some gripes here and there, but I'm just amazed that the crew stuck around to make EIGHT films, all of which are at least very good). Hunger Games needs to stick true to the books, but also bring in people who haven't read them. I LOVE the trailers we've seen so far, and I LOVE the casting (Katniss, Peeta, Effie, Snow, just about everyone), so I'm definitely looking forward to it. One things for certain, though: the world will be watching.

First of all, I'd like to make it clear that I will be reviewing aspects of the Kindle edition and also the Hunger Games trilogy itself. This series was recommended to me by a friend and I was told it was a definite must read. I chose to purchase the Kindle edition because it offered all three books for around $17. I figured this would be my best bet money wise and I also loved the fact that I would have all three books immediately in my hands. When purchasing from the Kindle store, you are promised to have your book within a minute of clicking the purchase button. My decision of purchasing the trilogy through Kindle was greatly based on the price comparison of the hardback trilogy and the Kindle edition trilogy. According to Amazon, the Kindle edition of the Hunger Games is $16.85 so roughly $17 and the hardcover trilogy is almost $31. In my eyes, there was no doubt about the Kindle edition being the more reasonable purchase. I'm still quite unsure and confused on how Kindle formats their book, in regards to font sizes and page numbers. I understand that Kindle users have the option of changing their font size to increase or decrease the character size. When a user increases the font size this also changes the number of pages they have to read in order to finish the book. A second issue dealing with the font size is that sometimes out of the blue, the font will just change when you change to the next page. This has never been a major problem for me but it threw me off guard and was a little unsettling for my eyes. The page numbers in Kindles can be very confusing and I for one haven't figured out the method yet. This usually wouldn't be a big deal but when you try to compare the Kindle edition to the actual hardcopy of that book, it can be very frustrating trying to match up the page numbers. Although, there were a few minor problems with the Kindle edition of the trilogy, I'm still very happy that I made the purchase. I loved the fact that I received all three books at the same time and I could carry all three of them around with me within a device that was a centimeter thick. As for the Hunger Games trilogy itself, I had absolutely zero complaints. As I began the first book, I was sort of confused but still very intrigued. Not until I heard someone else talking about the book, did I realize it was based in the future. The basic story line of the book is that the USA had destroyed itself and all that was left was a land called Panem. This consisted of 13 districts and a Capitol city. The people that lived within the Capitol were the wealthiest of all the people. The 12 districts that housed mostly underprivileged people had a different lifestyle all together. They had to work within their district's industry and many times went without food and any type of comfortable living. Each year, the Capitol would put on the Hunger Games in order to punish the districts and remind them how they ruined civilization. A girl and boy from each district were randomly chosen to fight to the death within a challenge-filled arena. Katniss and Peeta's lives were forever changed when they were chosen as tributes for the annual Hunger Games. You get to know the characters in great detail throughout the book when they are faced with adventure, challenge, death and even romance. As the series goes on, you learn more and more about the characters, the Capitol and the real reasons behind the Hunger Games. At some points, you may find yourself wanting to jump into the book and join the rebellion against the hated Capitol. The romance that was once a huge factor in the games begins to die down but the action and mystery only increases. Suzanne Collins does an absolutely amazing job of painting the romance, gruesome deaths and cut-throat action into the pages of the Hunger Games trilogy. Once I started the first book, I was fully intrigued and it was very hard for me to set my Kindle down. I would recommend this book to any person of any age. I know you can't always rely on the movie being as good as the book but I cannot wait until the movies comes out to see if I painted the same thrilling picture in my head.

This world that Suzanne Collins has created, is amazing. If you were like me and disliked books, after reading these it will change your mind. I had read this series 3 years ago and it still keeps me up at night thinking about Katniss's amazing story. This is a series that I can read over and over again, and never get tired of. Now, if you aren't picking these amazing books up because it's a YA book, you should really look past that. And ignore the whole "next Twilight" because you can't compare. You will have quotes stuck in your mind. Once you pick these books you will not be able to put these down. I decided to buy this boxed set because my older books were in terrible condition. I love these books, the box is a nice little box. Now about the series, characters are not one dimensional, they are defenitly relateable. The love triangle plays along well in the story, yes there is a love triangle in here, but it's really something minor compared to all the other things that are going on. The Hunger Games: In a post apocalyptic future nation, lies Panem. Panem is made of 12 districts, and the the Captiol, which is in charge of all the other districts. Each district is in charge of a particular source such as district 7 being in charge of Lumber. Before, there use to be 13 districts, but all 13 districts rebelled against the Capitol. The Captol blew up district 13. As for a punishment and reminder, all 12 districts must participate in the annual Hunger Games, where for the Captiol's entertainment, they force 1boy and 1girl from each district to fight to death, which is broadcasted live. The Capitol treats their districts very poorly, they also like to place bets on who will make it out alive. Now in district 12 we meet our heroin Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers as tribute after her sister Primrose Everdeen is chosen. There is a age range 12-18. Katniss is forced into an arena where she must fight to stay alive, along side fellow tribute Peeta Mellark, whom she feels owes something, because Peeta Mellark saved her from death. Catching Fire: The second installment of the Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta have survived the hunger games. But it's not at all what Katniss wanted it to be like. President Snow is keeping a close eye on her. Peeta has turned his back on her. And so has her best friend Gale. Katniss must continue to act in love, for Snow has warned her, if she doesn't act in love and makes it convincing she isn't just putting herself in danger. There is unrest in the districts. There might even be rebellion starting and if Katniss and Peeta fail to convince people that they were driven by mad love for each other, then they can end up in a serious situation. And that's not all there have been rumors that district 13 does exist. Mockingjay: The third and final installment of the Hunger Games. Katniss thinks she should be dead, after surviving not once but the hunger games twice. After being rescued from the arena, katniss finds out that district 13 does in fact exist. It had been planed to rescue Katniss from the arena from the beginning, the only people that didn't know about it was Katniss and Peeta. Peeta was captured by the Captiol, and Katniss also learns that her home was destroyed. The rebellion against the Captiol has boken into full force, and they want Katniss to become the symbol of the rebellion, they want her to become the Mockingjay. But can Katniss put all her hurt and empty feelings inside to become the peoples Mockingjay.

The Hunger Games trilogy is a book that breaks what are complex novels such as Animal Farm and 1984 (or Anthem) down to a level that is engaging and packaged to suit teenagers. Realistically, there are no real surprises here, from the start of book one to the end of book three the outcome is virtually assured. Not because book is predictable, but the political climate in which it was written is: The Oppressed will clash with the Oppressor and we will all regain our freedom. That's not what makes this book interesting, what is, is that it is written in a way that makes you care about the rather obnoxious main character and her teenage angst fueled inner monologue about how everything ever is up to her. Her mother is useless, her younger sister is vulnerable, her father is dead and even the men in her life are incapable of really surviving without her, except the boy she likes, he's like ... totally dreamy. And although, it's never put quite so succinctly (with exception of her mother, which is repeatedly lamented), the teenage self involvement definitely shines through on every page. Still, despite this rather elementary let down, the story is engaging and makes you interested in how things are going to play out, even if there never is any doubt of what the destination will be. That's not to say the journey there isn't filled with twists and turns but always it comes back to the weight of the world resting on the heroine's shoulders, with the realizations and reflections that others did prepare her being at best a fleeting ghost and memory if her father, even if she does at various times drag a prep-team and mentor around, this never appears to truly enter her frame of mind. Overall the world of Hunger Games is a distopia, with doublthink and misinformation being the order of the day for the different people in the world. The primary villain is a typical Stalin'esque evildoer that wrested power through manipulation and murder. The primary focus (the Hunger Games themselves) are children fighting to the death and the odds of individuals being chosen being directly proportional to the extent of their families suffering. Both of these factors clearly are designed to draw you in and again our current, western political climate is definitely the target environment, making this novel suitable to both adults and children. Though adults will likely view the self centered reflections as distracting and annoying. Not being a teenager myself anymore I can only assume that this will allow some to relate, even if their life is never as bleak as the book reflects, or worse, as the main character presents. The book is thin (~400 pages each), with large print and few words per page meaning that each book can, with some dedication, easily be read in a weekend or less. The story arcs of the three books repeats itself with an introduction, a preparation to fight and finally a fight. And this same three stage approach itself applies to the overall series. Personally, despite being predictable in the overall arc, the story itself kept me reading and go straight into the next book. In some ways I hope Collins does do the right thing and follow up with another novel (or series) to show what now happens in this world post liberation. Then again this seems unlikely, but I guess is a good indication that I liked the setting and the topics, which Collins herself states are based on Greek mythology and thus are timeless, albeit re-interpreted for a current audience. One final note: the book is told from Katniss's perspective, while the movie provides information to the viewer the characters do not know. Clearly there are considerations of medium which are suited to each approach, but I find it interesting that James Clavell's Shogun was treated in the reverse way, with the mini series being character focused, while the book deals with the entire world.

THIS is the kind of crossover hit that all "teen lit" should be. Yes, technically this is a young adult novel, but it is so much more than that. The book is a million times more graphic than the movies, but it's amazing. That said, you've been warned. What I don't get is why it's OK for teens to read intricate descriptions of these things, but showing them on screen would make it R-rated. Whatever. I am a little skeptical of anything with first person narration, but for anyone who would consider NOT reading these books because of that, let me tell you - BOOKS LIKE THIS ARE WHY FIRST PERSON NEEDS TO EXIST. There is soooooo much that is gained from a first person perspective. I mean, listen, you may call this a SPOILER SO STOP READING NOW IF YOU ARE SUPER DUPER SENSITIVE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS ONE: with a three book series written in the first person it should be pretty clear that Katniss survives the hunger games. As she is the one explaining what happens. So, when I realized that, I thought "What's even the point!? I know how it ends!" I WAS SO WRONG! The character of Katniss is so compelling and rich and layered. Katniss is a character that the movies, although wonderful, can never accurately portray no matter how hard they try. This is because an integral feature of Katniss' character, as you will find when you read, is that she is nearly incapable of communicating the things that she feels. The way she and her words and actions are perceived rarely, if ever, matches what she feels or thinks inside. That internal struggle and desire to be understood or left alone is amazing to read, and very unique. Also, the book is kept very tactile. In the arena, I liked not having an omniscient perspective. I liked that there weren't descriptions of how Katniss looked or changed throughout the games. Its all about how to survive. It's not romanticized. And it makes it all feel very tangible. This is the kind of strong female role model that young girls should have - someone who takes the time to learn to find out who she is and who sorts out her priorities before thinking about romance. I dislike teen romance books about these girls who see an attractive guy and suddenly he's her whole life. That's not what these books are about. If anything, these books deal more accurately with romance than anything I've ever read - teen or otherwise. Romance in these novels isn't about love at first sight or even investing all of your time and energy into that one special person who will save you from your previously boring and/or terrible existence. Rather, these books really capture the idea that it's not always clear how you feel - not in the quirky romcom way of, "Oh no! Who do I really love? How will I ever decide!? Woe is me." This is a girl who asks more important questions of her life, questions that people I actually know actually ask. Questions like, "Do I even have time for romance right now?" "Just because these guys are interested, does that mean I have to choose any of them?" Despite the marketing of the movies, this is not about a love triangle. The romantic situations in here are all secondary to this girl's desire to be free, to save her family, to get what she feels inside herself to come across accurately to the people around her. This is about a girl who struggles with a society and a world who tells her how to look, how to act, how to be, and knowing that listening can save her life, but also being deeply resentful of an inability to just be herself. The situations that these kids are in are terrible. They're supposed to be. They're supposed to make you feel big emotions and think about how to make the world in which we all live into a better place. It succeeds on all counts.

Unlike others who had to wait for the next portion of this story to be told, I bought these books--The hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mocking jay--as a set and read them one after the other. Accordingly, I will review the series as if it were a single 1,145 page book. Suzanne Collins' imagination and ability to mesmerize the reader with this fantasy is unprecedented by any series that I have ever read. Completely absorbed, I literally saw this action-packed drama unfold in my mind. I was completely engrossed from beginning to end. The reader will get to know many of the author's fully developed characters and may develop an emotional attachment and sense of loss as many of them do not survive. The tale begins with the aftermath of the world as we know it today. North America, now known as Panem, is organized into twelve districts, heavily controlled by the capital. Each district contributes major resources to the capital as the unequal redistribution of necessities impact the health and livelihood of citizens. Following the rebellion and inhalation of the thirteenth district some 75 years previously, the capital has established a grim annual (Hunger Games) and special 25 year (Quarter Quell) event to keep them in line and remind them of the cost of rebellion. Each year on "reaping day" the capital forces each district to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games--a fight to the death televised live nationwide--with rules, setting and weapons established by the capital after a short training session. Home districts mourn theirs losses and hail the survivor as the survivor's families and district are rewarded with a more comfortable life style. At eleven years old, Katniss Everdeen's father was killed in a mining accident in district twelve. Since that time she increasingly took over responsibilities as head of the household through hunting in the forbidden forest and selling excess game on the black market for other necessities. Sometime ago she and Gale met and became hunting partners as he provides for his two little brothers. When Katniss was sixteen years old, she volunteered to replace her thirteen year old sister, Primrose, who against all odds was selected to represent district twelve at the games. Peeta Mellark, son of a baker was selected as the other district twelve representative. Unbeknownst to Katniss until the interview prior to the onset of the games, Peeta has secretly been in love with her for years. This gut wrenching story flies by as this unbelievably harsh and cruel event comes to its annual conclusion only to be followed by the next. Unlike previous Quell Quests, two previous victors from each district are pitted against each other in a fight to the death planting seeds of rebellion that germinate throughout all the districts. District thirteen rises from the ashes bringing a new set of events, characters and circumstances to bear. Growing anger, alliances and characters develop as surprising events unfold while the reader holds on for life during this rollercoaster ride of gut wrenching suspense and drama come to a head leaving Suzanne Collins my new favorite author! Enjoy!

What must it feel like for an author to know that she has written a true classic? Surely that is how Suzanne Collins must feel, and deservedly so. Once again, I am late to the party on "The Hunger Games". Like "Twilight", it took a kid dragging me to the movie to get me to read the books. However, the similarities between the "Twilight" saga and "The Hunger Games" trilogy must end there. In fact, one of the reasons I was so hesitant to read "The Hunger Games" was because of my overall dissatisfaction with the final two books in "Twilight." Because "Twilight" was my first foray into the now copious and prevalent YA genre, I dismissed everything beyond it as teen angst and sparkly vampires. I think I made a grievous error there. I finished "The Mockingjay" this morning and have thought about it much of today. It has left my mind dark, stark and bereft. There are so many themes running through this trilogy that to dismiss it casually is just wrong. This is, in its completion, a work that demands further thought and an investment of emotion, whether the reader is willing or not. Each book, in its simplest observation, is tightly planned and controlled. There are no wasted words, descriptions or dialog. Each of the three books is comprised of 27 chapters, divided into three parts, each 9 chapters long. I didn't do a word count of each individual chapter - but my guess is they run pretty close to each other. I have to say, I read nothing similar to this as a YA myself years ago. Now, at 50, I feel cheated. Today's YA literature - sparkly vamps aside - has much to offer young people struggling to find a place in a world riddled with problems and issues. Having grown up in the wake of the John F. Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War, the subject of dissension and war itself has woven itself throughout my life, albeit, fortunately, on the outskirts. For this new generation, a product of 9/11 and a world changed by terror, "The Hunger Games" has much to address. And wisely, it does not attempt to preach and resolve. These dark themes are ones that have always been upon the earth and will continue to be. "The Hunger Games" makes clear that we are all flawed, and that the differences are simply the degree to which individuals go to cover, hide, defy, embrace those flaws, and the decisions we make in our lives as a result. Perhaps, as Katniss Everdeen does, the best we can do is to survive, one moment, hour, day at a time, until we realize the tapestry of our lives may be more far-reaching than we had ever planned. That simply surviving is the equivalent of a boulder thrown in a calm mountain lake - the ripples impacting the far shore we can't even see. "The Hunger Games" reads like that boulder in the lake. Some books leave you changed. This trilogy is a classic, with raw emotion and humanity lacking in profanity and gratuitous sex. There is life there, though at times, it is most definitely raw, hostile, angry and ugly. I know that I, jaded by "Twilight" and beautiful, sparkly vampires, kept relying on the boy/girl element in this trilogy. But in the end, that is not what comes up and smacks you in the face. In fact, I almost wish the author had not included the epilogue. That was the only part that kind of spoke of "selling out" and a concession to the teen romance genre. Katniss Everdeen IS amazing, if for nothing other than making it okay to realize that much of life is simply learning to make peace with the damage and fallout, and that if you are fortunate to end up in some kind of harmony with those around you, to not take it for granted. Ever.

A gripping story of justice and love in a dystopian setting.

A beautiful set of books. My 10 year old was gripped from start to finish. Good strong female lead character

Absolument génial, à la fois science fiction et métaphore de notre quotidien (présent ou potentiel…), ça se lit d’une traite ! On retrouve un peu le cynisme des situations que j’ai adoré dans Games of Thrones : nul n’est à l’abris dans cette aventure, un piège vous attend dans chaque chapitre. Et le plaisir suprême : des personnages complexes, humains, mis dans des situations exceptionnelles mais dans lesquels on se reconnaît. Succès largement mérité !

You may know this book 'cause of the movie. Well, "the book is better". When I first saw the trailer for the movie, I didn't know about the books. but it got me so interested I went straight for them. By the time the movie was out, I had already read the whole trilogy. And I'm glad I did. To be fair the first novel was ported to theaters in a good way and it's coherent with the book in all the important parts (there were few adjustements made 'cause of the different media used). If you went to see the movie but didn't really care for the action, and instead were more curious about the whole world in which it is set, please pick this trilogy. You'll find what you were missing, expecially in the 2nd and 3rd book. What I really liked is its plausible characters with real problems and capable of using their brain, and interesting points about class differences and the use of media.

Eu tô simplesmente APAIXONADA, os livros são mais lindos do que eu esperava. Houve um pequeno atraso na entrega mas valeu muito a pena. Mal posso esperar pra ler a trilogia no idioma original!

Lo único que puedo opinar sobre este libro es el entramado y la corrección del mismo, lo cual resulta impecable. Pasando a aspectos más subjetivos... Los tres libros estan bien correlacionados y esta oferta me resultó demasiado tentadora como para dejarla escapar, también debo reconocer que me leí los 3 libros en 14 días (y con esto me refiero a que esta triología tiene la cualidad de abrir un apetito voraz en mi mente). Dicho esto, voy a centrarme en los libros respecto a un hispanoablante. Yo tengo un nivel CAE(advanced) de inglés que ni es mucho ni poco, y estos libros los he entendido casi a la perfección por lo cual no son una mala compra para mantener el nivel de inglés y de paso aprender algunas palabras más... "exactas" entendamos. El lenguaje usado en el libro es bastante estandar y algunas veces da algunos sinónimos y expresiones cotidianas muy valiosas para la variedad léxica. Este pack se lleva un 5 a juzgar por el contenido y el ambiente que Collins ha conseguido transmitir y la buena dificultad para leerlo, ni demasiado llano ni estrictamente formal.